3 syllables: ner, vous, ness. Stress on ner.
/ˈnɝvəsnəs/
Say it backNervousness is the state of feeling anxious or apprehensive, often accompanied by physical signs such as a racing heart or trembling. It denotes a temporary condition driven by a perceived threat or upcoming challenge, rather than a clinical disorder. The term emphasizes the emotional and physiological arousal that arises in uncertain situations.
"Her nervousness before the presentation was evident in her fidgeting and quick breaths."
"Despite her nervousness, she spoke clearly and answered the questions with confidence."
"The athlete’s nervousness faded as the crowd chanted, boosting his focus."
Stress falls on the first syllable: /ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/. Begin with the rhotic, mid-central nucleus /ɜːr/ followed by a light /v/ and the unstressed /əs/ before the final /nəs/. In GA and RP, you’ll hear slight vowel length differences; keep the /ɜːr/ as a single stressed unit, then reduce the last two syllables to a quick /ənəs/ in fluent speech. You can practice by isolating the /ɜːr/ vowel sound and then chaining /vəs/ and /nəs/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (placing it on the second syllable) and over-articulating the /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Another frequent misstep is pronouncing /ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/ as /ˈnɜːrvəsnɛs/ or turning the final /nəs/ into /nɪs/. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable, ensure the /ɜːr/ is a single rhotic vowel, and reduce the final cluster to /ənəs/ with quick, light articulation.
In US and UK, the stressed syllable /ˈnɜːr/ centers on /ɜː/ with rhotic /ɹ/ in US. UK typically features non-rhotic /nəˈvəsnəs/ in some dialects, though many speakers keep /ˈnɜːvə/ in standard RP; Australian tends toward /ˈnɜːvəsnəs/ with a clear /ɜː/ and a slightly flatter vowel and less pronounced rhotics. Overall, rhoticity and vowel quality influence how the /ɜːr/ becomes a central vowel that may be less rhotic in UK English.
The difficulty comes from the sequence of a stressed central vowel /ɜː/ with an immediate following /v/ and the rapid transition into the unstressed /əs/ and /nəs/. The consonant cluster /rv/ and the subsequent /s/ can cause hesitation in non-native speakers, and the final /əs/ is a weak syllable that tends to be reduced. Mastery requires precise tongue height for /ɜː/ and smooth transitions to /r/ and /v/, plus natural unstressed reductions.
A distinctive aspect is the quick, light /əs/ reduction after the stressed /ˈnɜːr/. You’ll often hear a near-syllable boundary before the final /nəs/ in fluent speech. The initial /nɜːr/ is a rhotic nucleus in US English, but may feel less prominently rhotic in some UK varieties. Paying attention to the subtle /ɜːr/ nucleus and the rapid transition to /v/ helps you avoid inserting extra vowels.
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Nervousness derives from the adjective nervous, from Old French nervos, nervus, ultimately from Latin nervus meaning "nerve" or "sinew." The literal concept of nerves in the body gave rise to figurative senses of mental strain and sensitivity. Nervous entered Middle English via Old French in the 13th century as a borrowed emotional sense of being easily frightened or anxious, tied to nerves and nervous system. By the 17th–18th centuries, nervousness referred more to a state of anxiety or agitation rather than physical weakness. The -ness suffix, forming abstract nouns indicating condition or quality, dates to Old English and Latin roots, and solidified the noun Nervousness by the 1500s in scientific and literary usage. Over time, the word broadened from a medical or moral worry towards everyday emotional states, retaining nuances of heightened alertness and tension even in non-pathological contexts. In contemporary usage, nervousness frequently collocates with events, performance, or new experiences, while still retaining its general sense of unease or jitteriness.
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Words that rhyme with "nervousness"
-ess sounds
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